Do you care if a house guest keeps the space tidy during their stay?

[Anonymous]

I would not care about the mess, but I would care about the food. Maybe tell them that you have an ant problem, even if you don't have one, and you only eat on the main floor or something because of that.

When I am a guest, even with my family, I try to keep things neat and tidy where I can. Kids rifling through stuff is hard to keep on top of, but I do keep the bathroom wiped down and clean, and I would not bring food into the bedroom.

[Anonymous]

I try not to look because it bugs me when guests stuff is all over the place. But, as long as they keep it in the guest room, it is fine. I really can't stand it when they bring their mess into he rest of the house and take over family space like the dining table, kitchen island, and coffee table. (I'm looking at you in-laws.) But, I would not be ok with food and soda cans and would probably decline to host them again.

[Anonymous]

I care but wouldn't say anything unless it's like one of my nieces.

[Anonymous]

Ask them to eat and drink beverages other than water in the kitchen/dining area. Other than that, I wouldn’t mind their untidyness. Toiletries and accessories on the bathroom counter is normal.

[Anonymous]

The guest’s messy behavior is not your business. Maybe don’t ask them to stay again. You can intervene for anything that might seriously damage the house but short of that, no.

More importantly, you should have moved your linens. Guests deserve a private space. You don’t have to host them but if you do, be a good host.

[Anonymous]

Food containers left for up to two weeks would be a big no for me. I think I'd have to say something.

[Anonymous]

Yes, bothers me, but I don’t say anything.

[Anonymous]

I’d only contain about the food and soda. I probably would have picked those up and then said something along the lines of - when I went in to get the linens I noticed the food/soda so I cleaned those up. Please bring food trash to the kitchen/don’t eat in the guest room. Could add something about a prior problem with insects if desired.

I try to be very neat when traveling, more than I am at home. DH throws his stuff everywhere, way worse than at home.

[Anonymous]

The food stuff is gross, otherwise it’s their room right now. If they left it nasty I’d be upset then. Put a trash can at door and let them know when you’re collecting trash. Mention the containers and ask if they are ok with you going in for linens

I would have pulled anything needed out of storage and put elsewhere. It’s kind of awkward you’re going in there. Even if you’re not happy about it, they are still a guest.

[Anonymous]

Food-related stuff is a no-go. Their personal belongings in the room is their business. Stuff all over a shared bathroom counter is annoying, and if others are using it then I’d gather their things and put all their stuff in a little bin or similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We currently have a house guest staying with us for longer than I would prefer (2 weeks). We have a designated guest room but I use it for exercise and to store household linens, so I have to go in and out for towels and sheets, and I let them know this when they asked to stay. There is no en suite bathroom, the bedroom is next to the main guest/shared bath on our main floor.

Our guest has their stuff spread out wall to wall on the floor in the bedroom, has not utilized the luggage stand or closet. I went in to get some clean sheets and towels while they were out so as not to intrude and there are empty soda cans and takeout containers as well, which I find unsanitary. Their toiletries and accessories are all over the bathroom counter.

I'm not going to say anything, but am I out of line to be irritated by this? Do you care if a house guest keeps the space tidy during their stay?

Of course I care and yes you would be out of line if you said something. Two weeks should pass fairly quickly. Let’s hope. My sister came for a party that was at my house and she stayed in my son’s room. I keep a tidy and clean house and she completely wrecked his amazing room. It was embarrassing and she left the door open. Bed unmade, dirty clothes everywhere etc etc. Rather than say anything, I sucked it up and just closed the door to the room. I also closed other doors so she wouldn’t feel awkward. If she were living with me, I would’ve said something, but the night or two she was there, I didn’t find it “important” enough to cause an argument. I also feel that it would deter her from ever staying again. Breathe Op and weigh the cost.

[Anonymous]

And….I agree with the other posters. Please move your items temporarily if feasible. These are not items that you HAVE to get from that room.

[Anonymous]

This would bother me and I always try to stay contained when I am a guest but I also generally just hate clutter and mess. The stuff spread all over and the bathroom clutter I would just live with until they left. The empty food containers I would say some variation of "Hey, I noticed empty food containers in the bedroom. Those can attract mice and bugs so could you put those in the trash and not eat in the bedroom? Thanks."

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you supply them with a large plastic-lined garbage can? Give them some drawer space for their clothes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The clothes on the floor and not using the closet I could easily ignore.

Takeout and soda containers is gross.

+1 they can make a mess within their space.

Food waste is different because it can attract pests. Yikes.